Easy Programming Research Articles

Hybrid Distributed Shared Memory Space in Multi-core Processors

On multi-core processors, memories are preferably distributed and supporting Distributed Shared Memory (DSM) is essential for the sake of reusing huge amount of legacy code and easy programming. However, the DSM organization imports the inherent overhead of translating virtual memory addresses into physical memory addresses, resulting in negative performance. We observe that, in parallel applications, different data have different properties (private or shared). For the private data accesses, it's unnecessary to perform Virtual-to-Physical address translations. Even for the same datum, its property may be changeable in different phases of the program execution. Therefore, this paper focuses on decreasing the overhead of Virtual-to-Physical address translation and hence improving the system performance by introducing hybrid DSM organization and supporting run-time partitioning according to the data property. The hybrid DSM organization aims at supporting fast and physical memory accesses for private data and maintaining a global and single virtual memory space for shared data. Based on the data property of parallel applications, the run-time partitioning supports changing the hybrid DSM organization during the program execution. It ensures fast physical memory addressing on private data and conventional virtual memory addressing on shared data, improving the performance of the entire system by reducing virtual-to-physical address translation overhead as much as possible. We formulate the run-time partitioning of hybrid DSM organization in order to analyze its performance. A real DSM based multi-core platform is also constructed. The experimental results of real applications show that the hybrid DSM organization with run-time partitioning demonstrates performance advantage over the conventional DSM counterpart. The percentage of performance improvement depends on problem size, way of data partitioning and computation/communication ratio of parallel applications, network size of the system, etc. In our experiments, the maximal improvement is 34.42%, the minimal improvement 3.68%.

Efficient radiologic reading environment by using an open-source macro program as connection software

The objectives are (1) to introduce an easy open-source macro program as connection software and (2) to illustrate the practical usages in radiologic reading environment by simulating the radiologic reading process. The simulation is a set of radiologic reading process to do a practical task in the radiologic reading room. The principal processes are: (1) to view radiologic images on the Picture Archiving and Communicating System (PACS), (2) to connect the HIS/EMR (Hospital Information System/Electronic Medical Record) system, (3) to make an automatic radiologic reporting system, and (4) to record and recall information of interesting cases. This simulation environment was designed by using open-source macro program as connection software. The simulation performed well on the Window-based PACS workstation. Radiologists practiced the steps of the simulation comfortably by utilizing the macro-powered radiologic environment. This macro program could automate several manual cumbersome steps in the radiologic reading process. This program successfully acts as connection software for the PACS software, EMR/HIS, spreadsheet, and other various input devices in the radiologic reading environment. A user-friendly efficient radiologic reading environment could be established by utilizing open-source macro program as connection software.

A non-competitive martial arts exercise program for health and fitness in the general population

Although traditional martial arts training focuses on defensive and offensive systems of physical techniques for combat, martial arts can be practiced as a physical activity for health and fitness, and are recommended as such by US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. However, limited information on non-competitive martial arts exercise programs is available in the open literature. Compared with other modalities of exercise, martial arts exercise offers advantages in safety, no equipment required, flexible space requirement, adjustable intensity, comprehensiveness, individuality, exercise when watching television, and higher motivation of adherence. This article introduces a structured, systematic, and comprehensive martial arts exercise program suitable for the general population of different age groups and physical conditions. The curriculum features a non-competitive, non-contact, safe and fun personal/group exercise based on traditional martial arts training, covering a wide spectrum of techniques of hand strikes, kicks, elbow strikes, knee strikes, blocks, their combinations, takedowns/throws, and self-defense, in addition to warm-up and cool-down. The purpose is to provide an easy, safe, cost-effective (virtually no-cost) and user-friendly alternative exercise program to help the general population increase quality daily exercise.

Early intervention for psychosis in Hong Kong – the EASY programme

This article aims to describe the Hong Kong experience in developing and implementing an early psychosis programme. In 2001, the Early Assessment Service for Young People with Psychosis programme was launched in Hong Kong, providing both educational and service components. Public education includes promotion of timely help-seeking, accessible channels to service and knowledge of psychosis. The 2-year phase-specific intervention includes intensive medical follow-up and individualized psychosocial intervention. The programme has adopted the case-management approach, in which case managers provide protocol-based psychosocial intervention. The programme collaborates with non-governmental organizations and community networks in the provision of rehabilitation service. An average of over 600 young patients enter the programme for intensive treatment each year. Based on preliminary data from a 3-year outcome study, patients in the programme have remarkable reductions in hospital stay accompanied by improvements in vocational functioning. The results suggested that the programme improved patients' outcome. Additional costs such as extra medical staff and medications may be offset by the shortened hospital stay. Further directions in early intervention are also discussed.

Real-World Distributed Computer with Ibis

The use of parallel and distributed computing systems is essential to meet the ever-increasing computational demands of many scientific and industrial applications. Ibis allows easy programming and deployment of compute-intensive distributed applications, even for dynamic, faulty, and heterogeneous environments.

Implementation of FFT on General-Purpose Architectures for FPGA

This paper describes two general-purpose architectures targeted to Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) implementation. The first architecture is based on the coupling of a coarse-grain reconfigurable array with a general-purpose processor core. The second architecture is a homogeneous multi-processor system-on-chip (MP-SoC). Both architectures have been mapped onto two different Altera FPGA devices, a StratixII and a StratixIV. Although mapping onto the StratixIV results in higher operating frequencies, the capabilities of the device are not fully exploited. The implementation of a FFT on the two platforms shows a considerable speed-up in comparison with a single-processor reference architecture. The speed-up is higher in the reconfigurable solution but the MP-SoC provides an easier programming interface that is completely based on C language. The authors’ approach proves that implementing a programmable architecture on FPGA and then programming it using a high-level software language is a viable alternative to designing a dedicated hardware block with a hardware description language (HDL) and mapping it on FPGA.

Making the Best of Temporal Locality: Just-in-Time Renaming and Lazy Write-Back on the Cell/B.E

Cell Superscalar (CellSs) provides a simple, flexible and easy programming approach for the Cell Broadband Engine (Cell/B.E.) that automatically exploits the inherent concurrency of applications at a function or task level. The CellSs environment is based on a source-to-source compiler that translates annotated C or Fortran code and a runtime library tailored for the Cell/B.E. that orchestrates the concurrent execution of the application. We introduce a technique called bypassing that allows CellSs to perform core-to-core Direct Memory Access (DMA) transfers for generic applications. In this review we concisely summarize the bypassing practice and introduce two improvements: just-in-time renaming and lazy write-back. These extensions come at no additional cost and potentially increase performance by improving the perceived bandwidth of the Element Interconnect Bus (EIB). Experiments on five fundamental linear algebra kernels demonstrate the applicability of these techniques and quantify the benefit that can be reaped. We also present performance results for a first prototype of CellSs with bypassing.

Service-oriented architecture of adaptive, intelligent data acquisition and processing systems for long-pulse fusion experiments

The data acquisition systems used in long-pulse fusion experiments need to implement data reduction and pattern recognition algorithms in real time. In order to accomplish these operations, it is essential to employ software tools that allow for hot swap capabilities throughout the temporal evolution of the experiments. This is very important because processing needs are not equal during different phases of the experiment. The intelligent test and measurement system (ITMS) developed by UPM and CIEMAT is an example of a technology for implementing scalable data acquisition and processing systems based on PXI and CompactPCI hardware. In the ITMS platform, a set of software tools allows the user to define the processing algorithms associated with the different experimental phases using state machines driven by software events. These state machines are specified using the State Chart XML (SCXML) language. The software tools are developed using JAVA, JINI, an SCXML engine and several LabVIEW applications. Within this schema, it is possible to execute data acquisition and processing applications in an adaptive way. The power of SCXML semantics and the ability to work with XML user-defined data types allow for very easy programming of the ITMS platform. With this approach, the ITMS platform is a suitable solution for implementing scalable data acquisition and processing systems based on a service-oriented model with the ability to easily implement remote participation applications.

Evaluation and examination of research work for sections of Fuwai Hospital

The Scientific Research Management Department of Fu Wai Hospital appraises the output capacities of the research centers and research departments every year.To inspire the research passion,we set up the assessment criteria and threshold of specific minimum output.In this paper,we described the method how we set up the thread shod for qualified and excellent.We tested this method and got satisfactory evaluation results.It was indicated that our system provides a reliable,simple,practical and easy program for the research manage departments to appraise the different sections of the research departments. Key words: Department assessment; Assessment standard; Appraisal and evaluation; Hospital management

A New Automatic System for Angular Measurement and Calibration in Radiometric Instruments

This paper puts forward the design, construction and testing of a new automatic system for angular-response measurement and calibration in radiometric instruments. Its main characteristics include precision, speed, resolution, noise immunity, easy programming and operation. The developed system calculates the cosine error of the radiometer under test by means of a virtual instrument, from the measures it takes and through a mathematical procedure, thus allowing correcting the radiometer with the aim of preventing cosine error in its measurements.

Comparison between MEKC and UV spectral deconvolution to follow sorption experiment in soil

In this study a simple and rapid procedure for monitoring sorption of atrazine onto soil samples was developed. This method is based on a multiwavelength UV spectral deconvolution (UVSD) where the UV spectrum of a sample is considered as a linear combination of absorption spectra, named reference spectra. The combination of the reference spectra allows the restitution of the shape of the UV spectrum of any unknown sample. In order to evaluate the accuracy of this method, a sorption study of atrazine to three different soil samples was monitored using both UVSD and micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC) methods. The Freundlich parameters (K(F) and N) obtained for all soil samples tested were similar for both methods and UVSD has proven to be an accurate methodology, since the results did not present statistical significant differences at 95% confidence level. Moreover, the LOD obtained using UVSD presented lower values (0.066-0.12mgL(-1)) than the one obtained using MEKC (0.26mgL(-1)). The proposed UVSD method has been proven useful as a valid alternative, to the more common procedures to follow sorption experiment in soil matrix samples with no need of sample pre-treatment or column conditioning. This method is much faster and requires less sample manipulation than traditional analytical separation methods. Moreover, most modern spreadsheet-applications, such as Excel, now include statistical packages that allow performing multi-linear regression, which make this approach particularly inexpensive since the only requirement is a UV spectrometer. The regression output was made using the Microsoft Excel, a very easy and fast program, allowing anyone, with less knowledge about complex statistical programs, to perform the UV spectral.

Performance optimization and mechanical modeling of uniaxial piezoresistive microaccelerometers

The acceleration measurements in automotive, navigation, biomedical and consumer applications demand high-performance microaccelerometers. This paper presents an optimization model to maximize the bandwidth of uniaxial piezoresistive microaccelerometers based on cantilever-type beams. The proposed model provides a high sensitivity as well as normal stress levels lower than the material rupture stress of these microaccelerometers. This model uses the Rayleigh method to determine the objective function of the bandwidth and the maximum-normal-stress failure theory to obtain a stress constraint that guarantees safe operation for the microaccelerometer structure. The Box-Complex optimization method is used to solve the optimization model due to its easy programming algorithm. Finite element models (FE) are developed to determine the mechanical behavior of the optimized piezoresistive microaccelerometers. The results of the FE models agree well with those of the optimization model. The optimization model can be easily used by designers to find the optimum geometrical dimensions of piezoresistive microaccelerometers to maximize their performance.

Analytical resolution of the reaction rates of flavylium network by Laplace transform

A complete resolution of time evolution for all species of flavylium chemical reactions network in acidic to neutral media was obtained applying Laplace transform methods, Vieta’s formulae and the general partial fraction theorem. Analyses of particular systems under direct pH-jump, reverse pH-jump, stopped flow and flash photolysis experiments have been performed. The deduced formulas cover all possibilities of flavylium and anthocyanins compounds—with or without quinoidal base and with or without cis–trans isomerization barrier. The expressions for the observed rate constants in different type of experiments are quite similar. This allows creation of global procedure, based on fitting of one single set of expressions with data-set from different experiments. The mathematical approach allows easy and versatile programming.

Monitoring the performance of wild-born and introduced lizards in a fragmented landscape: Implications for ex situ conservation programmes

Ex situ conservation of animal populations may benefit from captive-breeding programmes, but these are criticised because they are assumed to be difficult, time-consuming and expensive, while they do not guarantee success. However, such assumptions remain untested in most organisms; for example, introductions could be very useful for recovering populations of small-sized species with short generation time, no learned behaviours, and ease to rear in captivity. Here, we document an easy, cheap and successful reintroduction programme of the lacertid lizard Psammodromus algirus. Two captive-bred cohorts (178 juveniles in 2001 and 187 in 2002) were released in four woodland fragments (0.9–5.2 ha) at two localities (B and V); B housed a stable lizard population whereas V apparently lacked a viable population of lizards. We monitored introduced and native lizards during 2002 and 2003, and carried out a corroborative searching in 2006 which confirmed the existence of a lizard population at site V. Introduced lizards had higher activity and dispersed more frequently among woodland fragments than native ones. Survivorship and growth rates were similar for both groups, but introduced juveniles were about 25% larger than native ones, due to both early hatching and better rearing conditions. The whole procedure was easily implemented in our Faculty facilities (mean hatching and hatchling survival rates of 0.90 and 0.87), and cost less than 20,000 € (excluding salaries). Therefore, similar programmes may be of wide application in small animals and of practical importance for species with a meta-population structure living in fragmented landscapes.

Screening of diabetic patients for microalbuminuria in primary care — The PROSIT-Project

The PROSIT (Proteinuria Screening and Intervention) Project started in1993 in order to obtain data on the prevalence of micro- and macroalbuminuria in diabetic patients treated in primary care, to establish an easy screening programme for microalbuminuria, in which also diabetic patients can participate in self-responsibility, and to implement a specific intervention programme for incipient nephropathy. In 58 representative doctor's offices 647 diabetic patients were included, who performed at home self-tests for microalbuminuria on three days within one week using the early morning urine and a newly developed qualitative immunologic teststrip for microalbuminuria. After storage they returned the same urine samples to their doctors' offices for semiquantitative retesting with the immunologic test-strip Micral-Test® II. In case of positive results the proteinuria dipstick Combur-9-Test® was applied in order to exclude other causes of positive microalbuminuria (e.g. urinary tract infection). Data of 569 patients (6% Type 1, 88% Type 2 and 6% secondary diabetes) could be analysed. Both qualitative self-testing for microalbuminuria at home and semiquantitative retesting in doctors' offices were found to be feasible. Based on semiquantitative retesting the prevalences of microalbuminuria (macroalbuminuria)were 19.6% (0%) in Type I diabetes, 17.2% (10.8%) in Type 2 diabetes and 11.7% (7.8%) in secondary diabetes. Type 2 diabetic patients showed a clear correlation between albuminuria and diabetes duration, HbA1c, serum creatinine, triglycerides as well as micro- and macrovascular complications. 227 patients with micro- or macroalbuminuria were included into the ongoing PROSIT intervention programme.

Screening of diabetic patients for microalbuminuria in primary care--The PROSIT-Project. Proteinuria Screening and Intervention.

The PROSIT (Proteinuria Screening and Intervention) Project started in 1993 in order to obtain data on the prevalence of micro- and macroalbuminuria in diabetic patients treated in primary care, to establish an easy screening programme for microalbuminuria, in which also diabetic patients can participate in self-responsibility, and to implement a specific intervention programme for incipient nephropathy. In 58 representative doctor's offices 647 diabetic patients were included, who performed at home self-tests for microalbuminuria on three days within one week using the early morning urine and a newly developed qualitative immunologic test-strip for microalbuminuria. After storage they returned the same urine samples to their doctors' offices for semiquantitative retesting with the immunologic test-strip Micral-Test II. In case of positive results the proteinuria dipstick Combur-9-Test was applied in order to exclude other causes of positive microalbuminuria (e.g. urinary tract infection). Data of 569 patients (6% Type 1, 88% Type 2 and 6% secondary diabetes) could be analysed. Both qualitative self-testing for microalbuminuria at home and semiquantitative retesting in doctors' offices were found to be feasible. Based on semiquantitative retesting the prevalences of microalbuminuria (macroalbuminuria) were 19.6% (0%) in Type 1 diabetes, 17.2% (10.8%) in Type 2 diabetes and 11.7% (7.8%) in secondary diabetes. Type 2 diabetic patients showed a clear correlation between albuminuria and diabetes duration, HbA1c, serum creatinine, triglycerides as well as micro- and macrovascular complications. 227 patients with micro- or macroalbuminuria were included into the ongoing PROSIT intervention programme.

Application development environment for event‐driven ubiquitous devices

PurposeIn ubiquitous computing environments, not only programmers but also general users come to develop/customize applications. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to propose a new application development environment for ubiquitous computing environments.Design/methodology/approachThe paper clarifies the requirements for application development environments of ubiquitous computing environments. It then designs and implements a prototype of a development environment that fulfills these requirements.FindingsIt is found that the requirements for application development in ubiquitous computing environments are: easy programming, detection of current status, programming awareness of network connections between multiple ubiquitous devices, and debugging with cooperation among real/virtual environments.Research limitations/implicationsThis prototype of application development environment is designed for event‐driven ubiquitous devices.Practical implicationsA prototype development environment has been implemented to show the effectiveness of this approach, and is presented an example of an application development to show the effectiveness of the approach.Originality/valueThis paper proposes a new style of application development for ubiquitous computing environments

The implementation of an improved NPML absorbing boundary condition in elastic wave modeling

In elastic wave forward modeling, absorbing boundary conditions (ABC) are used to mitigate undesired reflections from the model truncation boundaries. The perfectly matched layer (PML) has proved to be the best available ABC. However, the traditional splitting PML (SPML) ABC has some serious disadvantages: for example, global SPML ABCs require much more computing memory, although the implementation is easy. The implementation of local SPML ABCs also has some difficulties, since edges and corners must be considered. The traditional non-splitting perfectly matched layer (NPML) ABC has complex computation because of the convolution. In this paper, based on non-splitting perfectly matched layer (NPML) ABCs combined with the complex frequency-shifted stretching function (CFS), we introduce a novel numerical implementation method for PML absorbing boundary conditions with simple calculation equations, small memory requirement, and easy programming.

Uma metodologia de ensino de lógica aplicada em cursos de ciências humanas

O impacto causado pelo uso de novas tecnologias nos diversos setores da atividade econômica requer profundas transformações no processo pedagógico dos cursos superiores de Ciências Humanas e Ciências Sociais Aplicadas, trazendo dificuldade e insegurança para os educadores e coordenadores de instituições de ensino superior. Para alcançar um conhecimento das tecnologias correntes, que possa ser aplicado na solução de problemas reais de diversas naturezas, torna-se essencial o ensino de conceitos fundamentais de Lógica Aplicada tradicionalmente presentes em cursos de Ciências da Computação, proporcionando uma formação teórica, o desenvolvimento de raciocínio lógico e formal e de habilidades práticas bastante exigidas no mercado de trabalho. Apresentamos uma metodologia para o ensino de conceitos fundamentais de Lógica Formal Aplicada que vem sendo usada em cursos de graduação em Administração e Economia, com o propósito de colaborar na construção de um novo paradigma de ensino de tecnologia, que se aplica a diversas áreas de atuação, e contribuir para o aprimoramento do processo pedagógico desses cursos.

CellSs: Scheduling Techniques to Better Exploit Memory Hierarchy

Cell Superscalar's (CellSs) main goal is to provide a simple, flexible and easy programming approach for the Cell Broadband Engine (Cell/B.E.) that automatically exploits the inherent concurrency of the applications at a task level. The CellSs environment is based on a source-to-source compiler that translates annotated C or Fortran code and a runtime library tailored for the Cell/B.E. that takes care of the concurrent execution of the application. The first efforts for task scheduling in CellSs derived from very simple heuristics. This paper presents new scheduling techniques that have been developed for CellSs for the purpose of improving an application's performance. Additionally, the design of a new scheduling algorithm is detailed and the algorithm evaluated. The CellSs scheduler takes an extension of the memory hierarchy for Cell/B.E. into account, with a cache memory shared between the SPEs. All new scheduling practices have been evaluated showing better behavior of our system.